The ‘New Guild’

OUR Guild is, we think, quite traditional. However, we have a core of 28 members, both men and women, who are so supportive of our fortnightly meetings, along with a leadership team that is incredibly hard working and we all work so well together ie: secretary, treasurer, social convener, stall conveners etc. Our minister gives us his unfailing support and when invited to special occasions, makes a point of being present.

Change has come from the Guild National Executive eg the delegate system has been dropped and men have been admitted to membership. We are less formal than before, but always bear in mind the aim of the Guild. Worship is at the centre of our meetings, be it at the beginning, middle or end. We have used Robert Stephen’s book By the Shores O’Galilee to great effect. We are so fortunate to have a pianist to lead the singing. In our prayers we pray for one of the Boards and Committees of our Church at each meeting. The magazines of WM and CrossReach are helpful, also the WM weekly newsletter where we read about events such as the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon ordaining two women ‘to serve the Word and Sacraments’. We have also contributed to the Guild new book of prayers which is about to be published. Members also take part in the World Day of Prayer service.

Fellowship is interesting. Other members of our church now come along to some of the meetings and sometimes, someone will bring a friend. We always invite our congregation to the Soup and Sweet lunch. The proceeds of this go to the projects we support. The smell of soup wafting into the church during the service is very inviting! People give very generously. In addition, there is the Burns Supper, a Christmas lunch and a Summer Supper.

We have had good and interesting speakers this last year; members of the congregation, three ministers and two councillors. We have invited other Guilds to some of those meetings and they have returned the hospitality. During Guild Week, we host an Afternoon Tea (local Guilds invited.) This is a much appreciated and very popular event. The Open Night ceased to be well attended, so we dropped it. Most of our meetings are in the evening; three are held in the afternoons and people who have a commitment on a Wednesday evening, are free to come.

Jane, our Presbyterial Council Convener, is very hard working on our behalf. A Council initiative is ‘Don’t be alone with your ‘phone’ come and have a chat. So we meet monthly in a local church centre which serves tea and cakes. This informal little gathering has grown to about eleven people now. Three members, whose Guild has sadly folded, come so it keeps them in touch. We also support the Council rallies. Our own members see each other after church on Sundays in the hall for tea and some keep in touch by email. The Annual Gathering in Dundee in September is attended by some of us.

In terms of service, two of our members accompany the minister each month to a service in a local care home, whilst we continue to produce hats for sailors. The port chaplain is always delighted to receive those hats. He gives every visiting seafarer a woolly hat. Some people are able to knit and watch television at the same time!! Members also knit twiddlemuffs for dementia sufferers.

Worship is at the centre of our meetings, be it at the beginning, middle or end.

We were invited to the RNLI lifeboat station after having had a talk from one of their crew. Members and husbands had a most interesting morning and were advised that if a SOS call came through, we were told to leave the lifeboat quickly. Nothing happened and ‘we didn’t go to sea’! We do take a special collection for the RNLI.

We are also able to give to two of the national projects every year. The church secretary made flyers about the projects from one of the Guild leaflets. These we distribute on various occasions. The visitor from the Session was present at the meeting where the Project Co-ordinator spoke about the projects. She (Session visitor) was quite amazed at the Guild’s involvement in a project tackling FGM (female genital mutilation). She had spent a lifetime in medicine and was really impressed that we were talking about this important and difficult subject.

Looking to the future, the Guild’s new theme is ‘Go in Love’. God’s love for us, love for Jesus, love for others, our love for yourself…….. The current theme of ‘Joy’ is what the Guild is all about.